Game apparatus.



A. M. LOCKBI'T & A. M. LOGKETT, JR. GAME. APPARATUS.

, A PPLIOATION FILED A`1 G.5,`1912. 1,086,189-,

f 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb.3,1914.'

ii in srai'ras rar FFl@ ANDREW M. LOCKETT AND-ANDREW M. LOGKETT, JR., 40F NE ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Fatented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed August 5, 1912, Serial No. 713,324.

To all w71 om it may concern Be it known that we, ANDREW M. LOCK- E'ir and ANDREW' M. LoCiiET'r, Jr.,.citizens of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleansand State of Louisiana, have invented certainnewand useful Improvements iii Graine Apparatus, of which the following is,4 a specification.'

Our invention relatesto simulated ield games, where balls are thrown, batted, caught. and transferred to any one of the players, wherethe runners may be advanced or returned to their bases, and the fielder-s located and movable upon the field to correspond with the ordinary conditions of the game, such as base ball and cricket.

rl`he object of the invention is to provide an apparatus with which the games may be played as a game of skill, requiring practice to attain such proficiency, and thereby gain the interest of adults as well as children.

ln previous devices of'this character ce1;- taiii features of the game of baseball have been in a measure reproduced, but in all such apparatus of which we have knowledge the elements of chance has predominated,

land their value has been in'sutlicient, but in our game where skill of high order can be displayed, we believe the interest will increase rathei than decrease and iiiuch innocent amusement be derived.

With our apparatus as adapted to the American game of baseball, a regulation game of baseball can be played and every act or move necessary to the complete carrying out of the gaine accomplished, with the one exception, that the players cannot run after the ball when a playeizfails to cat-ch it by 40 -reason of an inaccurate throw, or a ball having been batted out of reach of the players.`

The invention consists of structural features and relative arrangements of the several parts comprising the apparatus, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar referencecharacters indicate the s ame parts in the several figures of drawing: Figure 1 is a pla-n view of the apparatus adapted for the game of base ball; Fig. 2 is a sect-ion on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the players removed; Fig. 3 is a. section on line 3-3 of Fig. l, with the players removed; Fig. 4

is an enlarged and fragmentary view of the right hand end of Fig. 3,-showing the means `for controlling any of the players; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form of a player; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan -view of a player showing the catching arms orfinitt; Fig. 7 is an enlarged and fragmentary view of the left hand end of Fig. 2, showing means for controlling the base running mechanism; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View of the means for' .controllingthe batting mechanism; and .Fig 9 is a plan view with cover ,of the table.

or field removed.

Referring Vto the drawings 1 represents 'the table, thiisurfaceof which must beV level and smooth`and preferably covered with cloth, similar tio-that with which billiar.`

tables are Covered. The table, though shown square in form, may be of any other desired shapeand is provided at its bottom with base boards 2,-around its outer and lower edge of sufficient depth to protect the operating mechanism to be hereinafter described underneath. Upon the upper surface of the table 1 and slightly removed from its outer edge is placed a flange or curb 3 which serves as an inclosure and prevents the ball B from leaving the table when batted or thrown. Arranged about the table 'in positions approximately the same as the players in a regular game of base ball, are nine players of which l is the catcher, 5 the pitcher, 6 the first basen '.7 the second baseman, 8 the short stop, il the third baseman, 10'the left fielder, 11 the right fielder, and 12 the center fielder. All of these players are identically the same in construction, excepting the pitcher 5 who is substantially the same'as the other players minus the catching arms or mit-t. Each of these nine players is cont-rolled from the same side of the table by a paratus to be hereinafter described for t epurpose of having the game played by two people, but it is manifest that the controlling mechanism may be placed in any position desired so that with a large table, as many as nine people may handle the players, each playing one position.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and Al, each of applicants players is constructed by having a cylindrical piece 13 whose upper surface is flush with the top of the table, the part exposed being circular in form and having a narrow slot 14: through its center. In this slot and fastened at its lower end is a spring wire. l5, the upper end of which is flattened and slightly cupped to' fit the surface of a n small steel ball B. lVhile I have shown the .piece 13 and permit of its rotation. Upon the lower end of the cylindrical' piece 13 is secured a grooved pulley 18, the bracket 17.

carrying `the cylindrical piece 13 having cast integral therewith an extension 19 to'which4 is pivoted a small bell crank 20, the upper arin of which is in contact with and supports the plunger 16. Attached to the other arm of the bell crank 20 and secured to the under surface of the table is a helical spring 2l. serving toplace the tension upon the operating mechanism, to be presently de-V scribed. At the side of the table and pro-v jecting slightly above the upper edge of the flange or curb 3 is a button 22 with a knurled edge 'which forms the -li'pper end of a spindle 23 projecting through the surface of the, table and resting upon one end of a bell crank 24. The spindleis carried and l:as

held in positionby any suitable bracket 25, and is free to revolve in said bracket and have an up and down movement within fixed limits. The lower arm of lthe bell crank 24 is connected by means of a wire 26 with the lower arm of the bell crank 20. 27 is-a pulley attached to the lower end of the spindle and above the bell crank 24, said pulley 27l being connected by means of an endless belt 28 with the pulley 18 attached to the cylindrical piece'13.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be readily seen that by rotating the button 22 with its spindle 23, through pulleys 27, 18, and belt 28, the cylindrical piece 13 'forming the player may be turned in any desired position. The spindle 23 being free to move up and down, a slight blow on the top of the button 22 will transmit through the two bell cranks 24 and 2O and connecting wire 26, an upward motion to the plunger- 16 which, being in contact with the wire 15 or metal piece 15', will cause the upper end vof the wire or metal piece to move upward and forward and propel a ball resting against the upper end of the same forward .with a velocity depending upon the force of the blow. The upper surface of the cylindrical piece 13 is fitted with a shallowl groove deepening toward the normal position of the thrower 15 or 15', and designed to cause the ball to rest against the thrower. rlhe shape of the upper end of the tlirower 15 or l5', and the vmanner in which the tllrower moves, together with the form of the groove in the upper end of the piece 13l gives the ball when propelled, as described above, a tendency to rise above. the surface of the table, and as the result of this, the ball may be thrown on a fly from one player to another. This feature is also desirable when it is necessary to throw the ball across the line lof the pitcher, as from the catcher to second base.

All of the cylindrical pieces 13, representing the players, with the exception of the pitcher, are provided with a mitt or catching device 29, which comprises a piece of wire or sheet brass bent and formed as shown in Fig. 6. The mitt29 is secured tothe upper disk end of t-he cylindrical piece 13 by two wires 30 passing through holesin the disk. These wires or brass pieces 29 catch and hold the ball when ityenters betweenthe outer ends of the same, until ejected by the thrower 15 -or 15', as above described.

Referring now to Figs. 1 8 and 9, 31 is a' bat controlled from the opposite side ofthe table from that of the players,"said bat being rigidly connected` to the spindle 32 which passes through and is rotatably supported in the guide 33 in the table 1. At the under and flower end of the spindle 32 are secured two pulleys '34' and 35; Secured at on'e end and coiled around the pulley 34.

is a pull string 36 having a stop and pull button 37. Attachedto the pulley 35 and oppositely wound fromstring 36 is another 'string 38 whose free en d is' connected by means of aspring 39 to the baselboard 2.

From the foregoing disclosure of t-he batting i mechanism, the person handling the bat can at will strike the ball with a heavy or light blow by drawing back the bat by means of the pull string 36 a greater or less arc ofthe circle, as the force of the blow is controlled by the tension of the spring 39. The bat has its front surface beveled similar to a golf iron, so that the ball may be batted on the Hy. The spring 39 holds the bat in its normal position, which is` against the stop pin 40. l

The mechanism for operating the runners between the bases is as follows, and is shown best 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 7. The table 1 is provided with'a narrow slot 41 which connects the bases and is not more than one sixteenth of an inch wide so asA not to deflect the ball when the saine is rolling across the table.

Under this slot 41 and arranged one over Athe other, are four endless belts 42, 43, 44

and 45 of suitable material (see Fig. 7) which pass over four distinct series of pul-v leys 46, each series of four pulleys one above the other, being placed at the four'corners of the diamond, that is, the home plate, first, second and third bases. These pulleys 46 are carried by a shaft 47 and are so arranged a little above the surface of the table 1, and on this pin is placed a miniature representa! tive of a base runner.

Each of the belts 42, 43, 44 and 45 will pass over one fixed pulleyand three loose pulleys. That is, the belt 42 which passes over the pulley 46y fixed to the shaft at the home plate will pass over loose pulleys on the' shafts 47, at first, second and third bases,

and will be cont-rolled by the turning crank 54, while the belt 43 which passes over the #pulley 4G fixed to shaft 47 at the first base "'"will pass over loose p ulleys on the shafts 47 at second and third bases and home plate, and will be controlled by turning crank 55. Likewise, belt 44 passing over pulley fixed shaft at second base, passes over loose pulleys on shafts at third base, home, and first base, aiidis controlled by turning crank 5G; and belt 45 passes over pulley fixed to shaft at third base, and over loose pulleys at home plate, first and second bases, and is controlled by turning crank 57. It will be seen that by this means, the four belts 42, 43, 44 and 45 may be circulated around the diamond or four bases in either direction and independent of one another, and imitate in a very realistic manner, all the individualities of actual base runners.

Frein an examination of the detailed construction aiid mode of operation, it will be seen that any player may catch the ball and threw it to any other player. Furthermore,

the ballmay be thrown by the pitcheroverY the home plate, or not, at will, the batter may bat the ball toany part of the field, depending upon his skill, and t-he base run ner may be moved forward or'backward, or

it several rui'iners arein action any one of them may be moved forward or backward.

The only exception and difference from an actual gaine of baseball is that the players cannot run or pursue t-he ball, and all therules of the regular game are adhered to,

with the exception that a passed ball may be picked up by the person playing the outs and give it to the player who would be supposed to get the, ball in a regular gaine.

If desired, sprockets and link chains may be used instead of the pulleys 46, and the four endless belts 42, 43, 44 and ,4,5,respetan tively.

IVe have also described above, the pitcher as not being provided with a mitt like 'the rest of the players; but ifso desired the pitcher likewise may have a mitt, the construction o-f which would be the same as that of the rest of the players.

What we claim is l. In an apparatus of the character def scribed, a table having a field, a swinging bat, means for oscillating said bat, a catcher, a pitcher having means forreceiving a ball, means for moving said pitcher, 'means on said pitcher for impelling the ball, rotatable outfielders with means for catching an impelled ball, and ball impelling mea-ns on each of saidoutfielders.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a table having a field, a swinging bat, means for oscillatingsaid bat. a catcher, a pitcher having means for receiving a ball, means for moving said pitcher, means on said pitcher for impelling the ball, rotatable outfielders with wire mitts for catching an impelled ball, and ball impelling means on each of said outfielders.

3. In an apparatus of the cliai'acter dev -combined means for oscillating said'pitclier.

and impelling'the ball, rotatable ontfielders with means for catching an impelled ball, and ball .impelling means on each of said outelders.

4. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, a table having a field, a swinging bat, means for oscillating said bat, a catcher, a pitcher having means for receiving a ball, means for moving said pitcher, means on said pitcher for impelling the ball, rotatable outfielders with means for catching, an impelled ball,A and ball impelling means on each of said outfielders, and meansl connected to each of said outfielders for rotating said outfielders and actuating the ball impelling means.

. In an apparatus of the character described, a table having av field, a swinging bat, means for oscillating said bat, a catcher, a pitcher having means for receiving a ball, means fpr moving said pitcher` means ,on said pitcher for impelling the ball, rotatable outfielders with means for catching an impelled ball, and ball impelli'ng means on each of said outfielders. separate and independent means connected to each of said outfielders for rotating said outfielders and actuating the ball inipelling means.

6. A baseball gaine apparatus, comprising a rotary outfielder having a catching mitt and ball impelling means', and a single shaft or spindle'controlling the rotary movement of said outfielder and ball impelling means.

7. In an apparatus of the character describd,"a table having a field, a diamond on said field circuniscribed by a narrow slot, a'p'itclie-iftatter, a catcher, outfielders on said field, a series vof superimposed endless belts passing around the corners of the diamond and below the slot, means'for attaching runners to said belts, and means for operating simultaneously and independently said belts.

8. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a table having a field, a diamondfon said field circumscribed by a .narrow slot in the table, a pitcher, a batter, a catcher, out- 'fielders on said field,l four superimposed endless belts passing around the corners of the diamond below the slot in the table, means for attaching independentrunners to said belts through the slot, and separate and independent means for operating simultaneously and independently said belts and runners about the diamond field.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a table having a field, a diamond on said field circumscribed by av narrow slot in the table, a pitcher, abatter, a catcher, outfielder-s on-said field, a shaft at each corner of the dia-mond having one fixed and three loose pulleys thereon, four superimposed endless belts passing around the corners of the diamond and carried by said fixed and loose pulleys, means for attaching runners f to said belts, and means connected With said shafts for operating simultaneously and independently said belts .and runners about the diamond field.

leys thereon, four endless belts passing around the corners of thediamond andcarried by said' fixed and loose pulleys, means for attaching runners to said. belts and prol jecting through the slot, and separate and independent means connected with and rotating the fixed pulley on each of the shafts for operating independently and in either' directiony said belts- 1l. ln an apparatus of the 4character described for playing baseball comprising a table having a field, a diamond on said field circumscribed by a` slotin the table, four endless belts passing around the corners of the diamond below the tabl'eand slot, means for attaching runners' to said belt-s through the slot, and means connected to each of said belts for independently moving said belts a-nd runners backward or forward.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREW M. LOCKETT. ANDREW M. LOCKETT, JR. lVitnesses:

J. C. VVENCK, T. J DOBBINS. 

